Interblocking plastic display

Abstract

A display device has two interlocked contrasting elements. A first element is of a first color, and has a top surface configured to resemble desired indicia, e.g. one or more letters or numerals. The first element also has a bottom surface which includes a plurality of first locking members. A second element has a plurality of second locking members which interlock with the first locking members, and is of a second color. The second color preferably contrasts with the first color. The interlocking action of the first locking members with the second locking members serves to interlock the two contrasting elements, thereby providing a good mechanical locking action therebetween. In a first embodiment, the first and second elements together form a generally flat top surface, while in a second embodiment, the two elements are of different top levels, so that the indicia may be either raised or recessed with respect to the background.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device comprising: a display member having a top surface and a bottom surface, said display member including indicia disposed on said top surface, and further including first locking means disposed beneath said top surface; and   a background member also having a top surface and a bottom surface, said background member including second locking means configured to interlock   with said first locking means;   said first locking means including a portion having a bottom surface disposed closer to the top surface of said display member than said bottom surface of the remainder of said first locking means; and   said second locking means substantially underlying said portion of said first locking means;   whereby said display member and said background member are locked together by the interlocking of said first and second locking means, particularly by the underlying of said portion of said first locking means by said second locking means.   
     
     
       2. The display device of claim 1, wherein said top surface of said display member and said top surface of said background member are generally co-planar. 
     
     
       3. The display device of claim 1, wherein said top surface of said display member is further from said bottom surface thereof than is said top surface of said background member. 
     
     
       4. The display device of claim 1, wherein said top surface of said display member is closer to said bottom surface thereof than is said top surface of said background member. 
     
     
       5. The display device of claim 1, wherein said first locking means includes at least one open groove. 
     
     
       6. The display device of claim 5, wherein said at least one open groove is disposed longitudinally with respect to a longitudinal axis of said display device. 
     
     
       7. The display device of claim 5, wherein said at least one open groove is disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of said display device. 
     
     
       8. The display device of claim 5, wherein said second locking means includes at least one tongue disposed within said at least one open groove. 
     
     
       9. The display device of claim 8, wherein said at least one open groove is dovetailed, and said at least one tongue is complementarily dovetailed. 
     
     
       10. The display device of claim 8, wherein said at least one open groove is stepped from top to bottom thereof, and said at least one tongue is complementarily stepped from top to bottom thereof. 
     
     
       11. The display device of claim 1, wherein said background member includes a plurality of apertures therein, and said first locking means includes at least one segment disposed in at least one of said plurality of apertures; whereby said background member and said display member are locked together by said segment and said at least one of said plurality of apertures.   
     
     
       12. The display device of claim 11, wherein said display member includes a first section disposed above said top surface of said background member, and a second section disposed below said bottom surface of said background member, and said first and second sections are joined by said segment; whereby said first and second sections act to clamp said display member to said background member.   
     
     
       13. The display device of claim 1, wherein one of said display member and said background member includes a notch therein; and the other of said display member and said background member is at least partly disposed within said notch;   whereby said display member and said background member may be aligned by said notch.   
     
     
       14. A display device comprising: a display member having a top surface configured in the shape of desired indicia, and a bottom surface disposed beneath said top surface, said bottom surface including first locking means;   said first locking means including a portion having a bottom surface disposed closer to the top surface of said display member than said bottom surface of the remainder of said first locking means;   said display member being of a first color; and   a background member also having a top surface and a bottom surface, said background member further including second locking means configured to interlock with said first locking means;   said second locking means substantially underlying said portion of said first locking means;   said background member being of a second color contrasting with said first color;   whereby said display member and said background member are locked together by the interlocking of said first and second locking means, particularly by the underlying of said portion of said first locking means by said second locking means.   
     
     
       15. The display device of claim 14, wherein said top surface of said display member and said top surface of said background member are generally co-planar. 
     
     
       16. The display device of claim 14, wherein said top surface of said display member is further from said bottom surface thereof than is said top surface of said background member. 
     
     
       17. The display device of claim 14, wherein said top surface of said display member is closer to said bottom surface thereof than is said top surface of said background member. 
     
     
       18. The display device of claim 14, wherein said first locking means includes at least one open groove. 
     
     
       19. The display device of claim 18, wherein said at least one open groove is disposed longitudinally with respect to a longitudinal axis of said display device. 
     
     
       20. The display device of claim 18, wherein said at least one open groove is disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of said display device. 
     
     
       21. The display device of claim 14, wherein said background member includes a plurality of apertures therein, and said first locking means includes at least one segment disposed in at least one of said plurality of apertures; whereby said background member and said display member are locked together by said segment and said at least one of said plurality of apertures.   
     
     
       22. The display device of claim 21, wherein said display member includes a first section disposed above said top surface of said background member, and a second section disposed below said bottom surface of said background member, and said first and second sections are joined by said segment; whereby said first and second sections act to clamp said display member to said background member.   
     
     
       23. The display device of claim 14, wherein one of said display member and said background member includes a notch therein; and the other of said display member and said background member is at least partly disposed within said notch;   whereby said display member and said background member may be aligned by said notch.   
     
     
       24. The device of claim 14, wherein said display member is formed of a first plastic;   said background member is formed of a second plastic; and   said first plastic is at least as durable as said second plastic.   
     
     
       25. The display device of claim 14, further comprising: a flange, affixed to at least one of said display member and said background member, for coupling said display device to a holder;   whereby said display device may be used with other similar display devices to identify an object with which said display device is used.   
     
     
       26. The display device of claim 14, wherein said display member has a thickness of at least one hundredth of an inch (0.01"). 
     
     
       27. A method of making a display device comprising the steps of: forming a display member having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface including indicia, said display member also having an aperture therein;   said display member further having a portion having a bottom surface disposed closer to the top surface of said display member than said bottom surface of the remainder of said display member;   forming a background member about said display member, said background member also having a top surface and a bottom surface, said background member further including a locking member disposed in said aperture in said display member; and   underlying said portion of said display member with said background member;   wherein said background member at least partly fills in said aperture with said locking member, thereby locking said display member and said background member together.   
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of: forming said top surface of said background member so that it is substantially co-planar with said top surface of said display member.   
     
     
       29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of: forming a notch in said display member; and   aligning said background member with said notch, thereby ensuring that said display member and said background member are in register during their respective formations.   
     
     
       30. A method of making a display device, comprising the steps of: forming a background member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and further including a plurality of apertures leading from said top surface to said bottom surface thereof; and   forming a display member about said background member, said display member having a top section containing indicia disposed above said top surface of said background member, a bottom section disposed below said bottom surface of said background member, and a segment joining said top and bottom sections of said display member;   said segment being disposed in at least one of said plurality of apertures in said background member,   forming a notch in said background member; and aligning said display member with said notch in said background member, thereby ensuring that said display member and said background member are in register during their respective formations.   
     
     
       31. A method of forming a plurality of display devices, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of display members, each having a top surface and a bottom surface, each said top surface including indicia, each said display member also having an aperture therein;   each said display member further having a portion having a bottom surface disposed closer to the top surface of said display member than said bottom surface of the remainder of said display member;   forming a respective plurality of background members, one each about said plurality of display member, each said background member also having a top surface and a bottom surface, and each said background member further including a locking member disposed in said aperture in said respective display member;   wherein each said background member may be formed in a mold having substantially identical characteristics, regardless of the nature of said indicia; and also   wherein each said background member at least partly fills in said aperture with said locking member and at least partly underlies said portion of said display member, thereby locking each said display member and its respective background member together.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of: forming said top surfaces of said plurality of background members so that they are substantially co-planar with said top surface of its respective display member.   
     
     
       33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of: forming a notch in each said display member; and   aligning the respective background member with said notch in each display member, thereby ensuring that each said display member and its respective background member are in register during their respective formations.   
     
     
       34. A method of making a plurality of display devices, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of background members each having a top surface and a bottom surface, and each further including a plurality of apertures leading from said top surface to said bottom surface thereof, each of said plurality of background members being substantially identical; and   forming a display member about each of said plurality of background members, each said display member having a top section containing indicia disposed above said top surface of its respective background member, a bottom section disposed below said bottom surface of said respective background member, and a segment joining said top and bottom sections of said display member;   said section being disposed in at least one of said plurality of apertures in said background member,   forming a notch in each said background member; and aligning the respective display member with said notch in each said background member, thereby ensuring that each said display member and its respective background member are in register during their respective formations.   
     
     
       35. A display device comprising: a display member having a top surface configured in the shape of desired indicia, and a bottom surface disposed beneath said top surface, said bottom surface including first locking means;   said first locking means including at least one open groove   said display member being of a first color; and   a background member also having a top surface and a bottom surface, said background member further including second locking means configured to interlock with said first locking means;   said second locking means including at least one tongue disposed within said at least one open groove;   said background member being of a second color contrasting with said first color;   whereby said display member and said background member are locked together by the interlocking of said first and second locking means.   
     
     
       36. The display device of claim 35, wherein said at least one open groove is dovetailed, and said at least one tongue is complementarily dovetailed. 
     
     
       37. The display device of claim 35, wherein said at least one open groove is stepped from top to bottom thereof, and said at least one tongue is complementarily stepped from top to bottom thereof.